Squarespace 301 Redirects Maintenance Guide

Learning Objectives

After completing this chapter, learners will be able to:

1. Monitor 301 redirects using Google Search Console to catch issues early
2. Clean up outdated redirects safely without harming SEO
3. Maintain an efficient redirect strategy as your site evolves
4. Troubleshoot common redirect problems on Squarespace

Introduction

Setting up 301 redirects is only half the job. The real work begins when you need to maintain them as your site grows and changes. This chapter shows you how to keep your redirect system running smoothly, spot problems before they hurt your rankings, and clean house when old redirects become dead weight.

Lessons

Monitoring Redirects with Google Search Console

Google Search Console is your best friend for spotting redirect problems before they damage your SEO. Here's how to use it effectively.

Step 1: Set up monitoring

• Connect your Squarespace site to Google Search Console
• Navigate to the Coverage report in your dashboard
• Check the 'Error' section for redirect-related issues

Step 2: Identify problem redirects

• Look for 'Redirect error' messages in your coverage report
• Check for 'Not found (404)' errors that might need redirects
• Monitor the 'Valid' section for redirect chains (redirects pointing to other redirects)

Step 3: Fix issues quickly

• Address redirect errors by updating the target URL in Squarespace
• Remove redirects that point to non-existent pages
• Break redirect chains by pointing directly to the final destination

This is the bit most people miss: checking your redirect health regularly prevents small issues from becoming big problems.

Cleaning Up Old Redirects

Over time, your redirect list can become cluttered with outdated entries. Here's how to clean house safely.

Step 1: Review your current redirects

• Go to Settings > Advanced > URL Mappings in your Squarespace dashboard
• Export or screenshot your current redirect list as a backup
• Check each redirect to see if it still serves a purpose

Step 2: Identify candidates for removal

• Look for redirects pointing to pages that no longer exist
• Find redirects that haven't received traffic in over a year
• Spot redirects that were only needed temporarily

Step 3: Remove safely

• Check Google Search Console to ensure the old URL isn't getting traffic
• Remove the redirect from your URL Mappings
• Monitor for any 404 errors in the following weeks

Here's the quick version: keep redirects that still get traffic or preserve important SEO value. Remove everything else.

Maintaining Your Redirect Strategy

Your redirect strategy needs to evolve with your site. Here's how to keep it effective.

Review quarterly

• Check your redirect list every three months
• Remove redirects that are no longer needed
• Update redirects that point to outdated content

Plan for site changes

• Before restructuring your site, plan which redirects you'll need
• Set up redirects before making URL changes, not after
• Test redirects on a staging site if possible

Track performance

• Monitor redirect traffic in Google Analytics
• Check loading times to ensure redirects aren't slowing your site
• Document why each redirect exists for future reference

Roll your sleeves up and make redirect maintenance part of your regular site maintenance routine.

Practice

Review your current Squarespace site's URL Mappings section. Find three redirects and check:

1. Does the target page still exist?
2. Has the redirect received traffic in the last six months?
3. Could the redirect point to a more relevant page?

Plan your next steps for each redirect based on your findings.

FAQs

How often should I review my redirects?
Review your redirects quarterly, or whenever you make significant changes to your site structure. This prevents your redirect list from becoming unwieldy.

What happens if I remove a redirect by mistake?
You can add it back in URL Mappings. This is why keeping a backup of your redirect list is essential before making changes.

How many redirects are too many?
There's no strict limit, but focus on quality over quantity. Remove redirects that no longer serve a purpose to keep your list manageable.

Can redirects slow down my site?
Each redirect adds a small delay, but the impact is minimal. However, redirect chains (redirects pointing to other redirects) can slow things down more noticeably.

Jargon Buster

• 301 Redirect: A permanent redirect that tells search engines a page has moved permanently, passing most of its SEO value to the new page
• Google Search Console: Google's free tool for monitoring your site's performance in search results and identifying technical issues
• URL Mappings: Squarespace's interface for creating and managing 301 redirects
• Redirect Chain: When a redirect points to another redirect, creating an inefficient path to the final destination

Wrap-up

Maintaining your 301 redirects isn't glamorous work, but it's essential for keeping your site healthy. Regular monitoring through Google Search Console, periodic cleanup of outdated redirects, and strategic planning for site changes will keep your redirect system running smoothly. Remember, a well-maintained redirect strategy protects your SEO investment and ensures visitors always find what they're looking for.

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